sThe book opens with a Kentucky farmer named Arthur Shelby facing the loss of his farm because of debts. Even though he and his wife Emily Shelby believe that they have a benevolent relationship with their slaves, Shelby decides to raise the needed funds by selling two of them, Uncle Tom, a middle-aged man with a wife and children, and Harry, the son of Emily Shelby's maid Eliza to Mr. Haley, a coarse slave trader. Emily Shelby is averse to this idea because she had promised her maid that her child would never be sold; Emily's son, George Shelby, hates to see Tom go because he sees the man as his friend and mentor. When Eliza overhears Mr. and Mrs. Shelby discussing plans to sell Tom and Harry, Eliza determines to run away with her son. The novel states that Eliza made this decision because she fears losing her only surviving child (she had already miscarried two children). Eliza departs that night, leaving a note of apology to her mistress.
Uncle Tom's Cabin
By Harriet Beecher Stowe
| Interest Level | Reading Level | Reading A-Z | ATOS | Word Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grades 9 - 12 | Grade 10 | n/a | 9.3 | 166622 |
His conversation was in free and easy defiance of Murray's Grammar and was garnished at convenient intervals with various profane expressions, which not even the desire to be graphic in our account shall induce us to transcribe. His companion, Mr. Shelby, had the appearance of a gentleman; and the arrangements of the house, and the general air of the housekeeping, indicated easy, and even opulent circumstances. As we before stated, the two were in the midst of an earnest conversation. "That is the way I should arrange the matter," said Mr. Shelby. -- "I can't make trade that way -- I positively can't, Mr. Shelby," said the other, holding up a glass of wine between his eye and the light. -- "Why, the fact is, Haley, Tom is an uncommon fellow; he is certainly worth that sum anywhere, -- steady, honest, capable, manages my whole farm like a clock. Tom is a good, steady, sensible, pious fellow. He got religion at a camp-meeting, four years ago and I believe he really did get it. I've trusted him, since then, with everything I have, -- money, house, horses -- and let him come and go round the country; and I always found him true and square in everything." -- "Some folks don't believe there is pious niggers Shelby," said Haley, with a candid flourish of his hand, "but I do."
Book Reviews (4)
Ok, so I have just watched the rest of Uncle Tom's Cabin and it was heartbreakingly sad for me.Simon Legree is very different from Tom's previous slave owners.He is mean, cruel, and a drunk that doesn't care what happens to his slaves."Once they wear off in 6-7 years, I will dump them and get new ones."He keeps the young girl slave Emmeline inside with him to do you know what.The rest of the slaves are left to work outside in the field and work grueling long days.They get to sleep in a barn with hay.Tom is very helpful and nice to the other slaves.When one woman is ill, he carries her cotton, but later gets into trouble for it.(He gets whipped).I loved how he was assertive and stood up for the other slaves especially the lady who was obviously sick.Cassy and Emmeline later hide in the attic where they know they are safe because it is said that Simon Legree killed a slave up there years before.They narrowly escape while Simon is drunk and knock things over and make strange noises to make Legree seem like he was going insane.In the morning, the overseer reports to Legree that they are gone and they get the horses and dogs to go hunt them down like bounty hunters.Their plan (Cassy and Emmeline) is to run in a circle around the plantation and into the woods to confuse the owners and the dogs.They hide back in the attic and later escape.Simon Legree knows that Tom knows where Cassy and Emmeline went, but will never tell.EVER.Then Simon tells Tom that he will one day break every bone in his body, which, basically means that he is going to kill Tom.The next part is when Tom is hung shirtless and tied by the hads on a wooden post and basically whipped to death.This part was really grueling for me to read and watch because in the movie you can hear and see the whip and his skin after the whipping.Then Tom is seen in the barn all bloody, when his old slave owner's son who is now a young man comes to see him.Legree is too drunk to care when or if Christopher goes.Christopher is appalled at Tom's state and keeps repeating,"Oh, Tom.What have they done to you!"Tom says his last words extremely weakly and dies with Christopher pleading him not to die.The ending is when Christopher takes Tom's body in the wagon he came in and then punches Legree multiple times until he falls face first in the mud, wailing and crying.The last part of the movie was SOO sad for me.I was enjoying it until that part rolled around.But, despite all that bad stuff, it was a great book and movie.But some disturbing moments (for me) I recommned for ages 10-11 and up.Enjoy!
A book with a meaning is the best kind of book. A must read for those interested in the evils of slavery.
I am seeing the movie in my history class and I am really enjoying it so far.It is about this slave named Tom who everybody calls "Uncle Tom" because he is so nice and friendly to the other people including the plantation owners and their families.He is their friend.He then gets sold to another family ona steamboat when he rescues their little girl,Eva from drowning after she falls off of the steamboat.They have a great life (Tom) until Eva comes down with a cough and later passes away.(That part was really sad for me because she was a sweet little girl and didn't believe in slavery.She thought it was very wrong and they should all be free.)LAter,Eva's father tells Tom that Eva's dying wish was to free Tom from slavery.Apparently other Pro-slavery people hear and they kill him on the spot.Tom's wish does not get fulfilled and the widow sells him and he gets sold to a bad, mean, and cruel slave owner named Simon Legree.That is as far as I have gotten,but it is recommended to older kids, maybe ten and up?It is great for something written over 200 years ago.(i think).I will update once I see more of the movie.It is so sad how we Americans enslaved African people and treated them so cruelly.I can't get over that fact.Read it when you can!